this time was in PROF. STUART'S drug store, Thirty-ninth street and Cottage Grove avenue, there being a small place in the rear of the store for this purpose. PROF. SALISBURY conducted his analyses in the laboratory of the Woman's Medical College, Lincoln and West Harrison streets. This arrangement was continued during 1893.

On September 18, 1893, a supplementary ordinance was passed by the City Council, that had for its principal objects the bringing of the Bureau of Milk Inspection under the immediate control of the COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH, and assigning the duties of the Deputy Commissioner of Health to him, and the creation of a laboratory for the DEPARTMENT in which analyses of milk, water, ice, and all food stuffs should be made and other inspections carried out, as might be deemed advisable. During January, 1894, room was obtained in the City Hall and the laboratory was equipped from supplies already on hand, and such additional apparatus and fittings as were needed at that time.

Beginning in February, analyses were made here regularly. DR. GEHRMANN was appointed as Superintendent and MR. KENNICOTT as Assistant. During 1894 an extended series of analyses of city water was made. This series included 239 sanitary analyses. From the first, numbers of analyses of food products, drugs, etc., were made up to the limits of time, there being but three persons working in the laboratory during this year. Many of these samples were received from private persons making complaint in regard to purchases from dealers. In October the bacteriologic diagnosis of diphtheria was undertaken for physicians, and has since grown to be a very considerable part of the bacteriologic work. The work was continued in this manner during 1894.

An incident of some importance occurred in connection with the appropriation allowance for 1895. Opposition,

especially to the enforcement of milk inspection, had been developing for some time, and culminated in an attempt to show that the work was of no value and that the DEPARTMENT had not enforced the license regulation. The appropriation was lost, but owing to an energetic appeal from the COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH, DR. ARTHUR R. REYNOLDS, the Council allowed the item of appropriation for the year.

During 1895 and 1896 the work has greatly increased and has been much improved. More subjects have been introduced and more help has been granted. The inspection of ice was begun in June, 1895, under an ordinance passed April 15, 1895. A systematic examination of vaccine used by the DEPARTMENT was begun in July, 1895. A more stringent enforcement of the milk ordinance was begun in August of that year. An additional room for laboratory work was obtained and equipped for chemical analyses. During October, 1896, the bacteriologic diagnosis of typhoid fever for physicians was begun, and the bacteriologic laboratory was equipped with additional apparatus and fittings.

November 6, 1896, the inspection of meat was placed in charge of the laboratory and has necessitated much additional work. The meat inspectors have found that the technical help of the laboratory is of great value to them and have constantly made use of it in settling disputed questions, incidentally causing considerable extra time and work to be given to this subject by the laboratory force.

once.

The equipment of the laboratory is now so complete that almost every line of investigation can be undertaken at It is highly desirable, however, that the laboratory be given more floor space, as the small rooms now occupied are overcrowded; while the need of scientific assistance is being more and more felt because of the constantly increasing number of samples and specimens received and the analyses demanded.

MILK INSPECTION.

CASS L. KENNICOTT, F. C. S., CITY CHEMIST, IN CHARGE OF
MILK INSPECTION.

THE City of Chicago is situated in one of the finest dairy districts in the world, whose broad plains and fertile valleys are justly famous for their luxuriant pastures, cool springs and fine cattle. Nothwithstanding these favorable conditions previous to the instituting of what was popularly known as the "milk crusade" the milk supply of Chicago was of an inferior quality. The COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH, realizing the great menace to public health of adulterated and unclean milk, issued instructions during the latter part of August, 1895, ordering the entire force of the laboratory to bend every energy toward improving the milk supply and to vigorously prosecute all dealers selling milk or cream not in accordance with the milk ordinance. The number of samples collected and analyzed was at once increased and vigorous prosecution of offenders reduced the number of samples below grade from 60 per cent. to 5 per cent. in a few weeks. This is shown in a graphic manner by the accompanying chart, the vertical lines representing periods of a week, while the horizontal lines represent the per cent. of samples below grade.

The use of coloring in milk or cream, although much improving its appearance, has been shown by recent scientific investigation to seriously interfere with the pancreatic and peptic digestion. This practice was very common, in fact, almost universal, but is now a thing of the past. The skimming of milk, and more particularly the partial skimming, or removing of the top quart of cream from each can, was practiced by the majority of milk dealers, and, in fact, this "top quart" evil is not yet entirely suppressed. The removal of the top quart from a can of milk

is, if anything, more objectionable than entire skimming, not only from the fact that this skimming unbalances a perfect food, and from this point of view is more objectionable than watering, for a housekeeper, although able to tell milk from which all of the cream has been skimmed, cannot tell partially skimmed milk without the aid of an analysis. Over 14 000 samples of milk were examined in 1895. This number was increased to over 25 000 in 1896.

The system of collecting and testing samples adopted by the municipal laboratory is as follows: Six milk inspectors are employed who are assigned to certain districts, these districts being changed every few days. The inspectors are simply collectors of samples and make no analyses themselves, all testing being done in the laboratory. The DEPARTMENT is not in sympathy with any method of inspection where a simple hydrometer test done on the street corner practically allows all but the very poorest quality of skimmed or watered milk to pass inspection. Samples are collected in half-pint bottles, each bearing a number which has never been used before and is never used again. A complete record of the circumstances of taking the sample is made by the inspector and a duplicate of this record is given to the milk dealer, thus giving him an opportunity to make objection to any part of the record while the conversation or circumstances are fresh in the memory of both the inspector and the milk dealer. If the milk dealer so requests a duplicate sample is given under seal, and he may have it tested by another chemist if he so chooses.

It is to the credit of the DEPARTMENT that in no instance in the hundreds of cases tried in court has the analysis been disputed by competent evidence. The milk inspectors carry their samples in a case holding 24 bottles. The case is furnished with a lock and key, and inspectors